Chapter Nineteen: She Must Consider Her Fiancé

“Just now, the magistrate’s office announced that your company has secured the development rights for the old city district. I see great business potential and hope to collaborate with you—I'll provide the funding, and you oversee the project’s execution.” Xia Xin suppressed her excitement and asked calmly, “So, President Chu, how much are you prepared to invest?”

“I’m planning to put in two and a half billion for the initial phase—more if needed.”

The astonishing reply left Xia Xin at a loss. She even pinched her thigh under the table, feeling the pain and confirming she wasn't dreaming.

After a pause, Xia Xin tentatively asked, “President Chu, do you know Chen Fan?”

There was a moment of silence on the other end, the voice sounding a bit impatient.

“President Xia, I don’t know the Chen Fan you mentioned. Our company, Star Fortune, was only recently established. Our goal is to gain a foothold in East City. If you’re not interested in working together, I’ll take my leave.”

Hearing this, Xia Xin hurriedly said, “Please don’t be upset, President Chu. I was only asking out of curiosity. I am, of course, very pleased to have a prominent entrepreneur like you propose a partnership. May I ask what your terms are?”

Since he didn’t know Chen Fan, he likely wasn’t his friend. Xia Xin was no naive girl; for someone to invest so much, the terms would surely be stringent.

Chu Yunfei replied, “I have no special conditions. My goal is to make money. After some investigation, I found your diligence and achievements impressive, President Xia. I firmly believe that with a partner like you, profit is assured.”

“My terms are simple: after the project’s completion, we split the profits sixty-forty—you get forty percent. In the future, our two companies can collaborate not only in real estate, but also in other fields.”

After listening, Xia Xin felt inexplicably uneasy—not because Chu Yunfei proposed a sixty-forty profit split. With such a substantial investment, she would even accept seventy-thirty. It was simply that everything felt too coincidental.

She even had the illusion that Chu Yunfei had come just to hand her money!

As she was lost in thought, Chu Yunfei’s voice came through the phone, “President Xia, if you find this agreeable, I’ll come by with the contract soon. If not, we can discuss it another time.”

Xia Xin pondered briefly, then smiled, “Very well, I’ll be waiting for your esteemed visit at the office!”

After hanging up, Xia Xin sat in her chair, reflecting for a moment.

She immediately called her secretary, Liu Qin, through the landline, asking if she had heard of Star Fortune Company.

“President Xia, the company was just recently established. I heard their registered capital alone is several billion. It seems to be an investment firm, and the owner is Chu Yunfei—a non-local.”

Liu Qin adjusted her black-rimmed glasses, looking at Xia Xin with curiosity. “President Xia, why are you asking about them?”

Xia Xin briefly recounted what had just happened, wanting to hear Liu Qin’s opinion.

“My goodness, is this true? Star Fortune wants to partner with us!” Liu Qin asked excitedly.

Xia Xin nodded, her face tinged with worry. “Why do you think a company as well-capitalized as Star Fortune would approach us? Is it simply because we’ve just obtained the development rights?”

It sounded plausible, but if Xia Xin herself had to hand over more than two billion to a mid-sized company for a project, she would never allow it.

Liu Qin smiled sweetly, “Isn’t it obvious? President Chu must have heard you’re a great beauty and wants to attract your attention by throwing money at you!”

“Have you been reading too many CEO romance novels?” Xia Xin rolled her eyes.

If it were a matter of a few tens of millions, Xia Xin might really think that, but this was billions. He definitely wasn’t investing just to pursue her.

“Didn’t you say President Chu will be here soon to sign the contract?” Liu Qin smiled apologetically and suggested, “When he arrives, observe his eyes. If he’s ogling you and you probe subtly, you’ll know whether he’s here for business or for you.”

“You certainly seem experienced!” Xia Xin joked half-seriously.

Liu Qin proudly straightened her posture and adjusted her glasses, excited. “Of course, President Xia, I know men well. When a man meets a woman, he usually looks at three places: the face, the chest, and the legs.”

“Those who focus on the face are generally perfectionists or have high standards. They’re usually deep and faithful, often powerful—bosses or civil servants.”

“Those who look at the chest tend to be superficial and lustful, lacking firm principles and easily swayed by beauty. Such men rarely achieve much, mostly hooligans or ordinary folk.”

“Those who focus on the legs are more complicated. From my experience, they’re either psychologically abnormal or extremely lecherous. Only a few are normal and outstanding.”

After this analysis, Xia Xin couldn’t help recalling last night, when she walked with Chen Fan after dinner. She remembered that Chen Fan always looked at her face, never lingering on her chest or legs for more than three seconds.

But Chen Fan was hardly faithful or devoted!

He used to be famous in East City for his flirtatious ways—Xia Xin remembered this very well.

Thinking of this, Xia Xin looked annoyed. “What nonsense, none of that’s accurate. Go fetch Ma Yutong from Legal; we’ll need her to review the contract shortly.”

An hour later, in the meeting room.

“President Xia, here are the collaboration details I drafted. Please let me know if there are any issues.” Chu Yunfei had his secretary hand a contract directly to Xia Xin, who glanced over it briefly before passing it to Ma Yutong for a thorough check.

A few minutes later, Ma Yutong shook her head at Xia Xin. “No issues, President Xia.”

Receiving this answer, Xia Xin nodded, unable to suppress her curiosity. She asked, “President Chu, with your impressive resources, why did you choose our Meiting?”

“I explained my reasons clearly over the phone. Perhaps you suspect I have ulterior motives, but rest assured, I only care about making money. With money, there are endless women, all at my disposal. Forgive my candor, but strong women like you aren’t my type.”

Undoubtedly, Xia Xin felt a bit stung, but her suspicions instantly dissipated, and she appreciated his frankness.

She remarked with some admiration, “President Chu, you’re certainly direct. In that case, I have no doubts—after all, I’m about to get married and must consider my fiancé.”

With that, she did not hesitate, picked up her pen, and signed her name with a flourish.